Roadside signal



Nov. 29, 1927. 1,651,126

I w. A. INGALLS v ROADSIDE SIGNAL Filed Oct- 10, 1925 ZSheets-Sheet 1 Z Z3 I News, 1927.

I w. A. INGALLS ROADS IDE S IGNAL 2 Sheets-sheaf 2 Filed Oct. 10, 1925 Patented Nov. 29, 1927.

WILLDE A. INGALLS, RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

ROADSIDE SIGNAL.

Application filed October 10, 1925. Serial No. 61,692.

This invention is a roadside signal device of the type used to impart warnings as to trafiic or to indicate road conditions.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a signal device of the character mentioned which will be simple in construction, but capable of withstanding to a maximum degree, deterioration under exposure to the action of the elements and such attempts at destruction as may be due to vandalism. A further object is to provide a signal device equipped with a normally unbreakable light reflecting surface, means for coloring a beam of light reflected therefrom, and means for affording maximum protection for said sur, face. A further object is to provide simple means for focusing the device.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation illustrating a signal device constructed in accordance with the invention. Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.- Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3, Figure 2. Figure 4 is a detail sectional view illustrating means for changing the focus of the reflector. Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating one of the supporting devices. Figure 6 is a detail view illustrating a modification of the'protector frame.

Referring'to the drawing, 10'designates a back plate of any desired size and shape,

' to which is secured a protector frame 11.

The frame 11 is preferably constructed with a base flange-12 and an overhangingtopflange l3, bolts 14 being shown,aspassed 'through ,the base flange and the back plate to secure the frame in place. I

The light reflecting element comprises a metal sheet 15, having one surface polished colored material.

to provide a reflector, said polished surface. being'covered-by a sheet 16 of transparent The sheets 15 and .16 are bound together at their edges by suitable binding strips 17, as shown, so that the back surface of said color screen will be in contact throughout its area with a correspondingarea of the front surface of the reflector member. Any desired contour may be imparted to the surface of sheet 15, but for purposes of illustration it is shown slightly concaved.

For the purpose .of the invention it is preferred to construct sheet 16 of a material which will not easily fracture under shocks, such as some of the forms of cellulose materials now on the market. The light-reflecting element is held in place by the lower flanges 18 of anchoring devices 19, which are removably secured to the body of frame- 11, by means of bolts 20.

Interposed between the top flange 13 of the frame 11, and the contiguous top flanges 21 of the anchor members, and retained in place by them, is a wire mesh protector screen 22. Said screen is of sufficiently heavy mesh to resist the blows of large stones and other missiles which may be projected against it, and is also spaced far enough from the reflector member to protect the latter from injury or defacement by vandals.

It is sometlmes desirable to change the angle of a portion of the reflector member with respect to the back plate 10. Such adjustment may be accomplished by means of the arrangement shown in Figure 4:. Re-. ferring to said figure, 23, designates an adjusting screw, mounted in the back plate 10, and bearing against the underside of the sheet 15 near the edge thereof. It is ob- .vious from the drawing that the angle is variedby adjusting the screw 23, the reflector member being sufficient-l resilient to yield when pressure is, app ied thereto.-

When the adjusting device of Figure 4: is used, the anchor devices 19 are made in twoparts as shown, so that the position of the lower flange may be changed to conform to the adjustment of said reflector members.

.The signal .device may be supported in any desired manner. It is preferred, however, to provide the back plate 10 with lugs '24, each provided with a slot'25. Complemental to said lugs are support straps having loop. portions 26 shaped toembrace a post 27, and having arms 28 NVhlCl'l overlap ,tary structure.

the lugs. The loop portions 26 are tightened or loosened by means ofbolts 29, and the arms 28 are. connected to the lugs 24: by means of bolts 30 which pass through the slots 25. If desired suitable signs 31 may be attached to the device as shown pass around the-post, after which the loops are tightened to' clamp the said post. The arms 28 are then connected with the lugs 24 by means of the bolts 30. To focus the sign, any desired radial-position with respect to the post, is obtained by loosening the loops 26 and then turning the support straps to the desired angle, after which the loops are again tightened. The vertical angle may be varied by loosening the bolts 30 and tilting the, signal member, the slots 25 and the arms 28 serving to permit this adjustment.

If any finer adjustment of fpcus is required it may beefl'ected by means of the screw 23.

In lieu of making the protector frame of a single piece of metal as shown in Figures 1, 2 and- 3, it may be desirable to make it of from an automobile headlight, will be reaplurality of parts as illustrated in Figure 6, in which the parts of the frame are shown as provided with a joint 30. In this form of the invention the anchor members 31 perform the additional function of reenfor'cing or splicing said joint.

The advantages'of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which it belongs. For instance, it will be noted that by constructing the reflector of metal it may not be broken, and therefore will withstand shocks which would be fatal to glass. Neither will it readily deteriorate under the action of the elements. By employing a transparent color screen, the refleeting qualities of the metal sheet 15 are not in the leastimpai-red, and it is possible to impart any desired color which may be considered suitablefor signal purposes. An important advantage of this arrangement is that at night, the beam of light projected flected back in such a; manner as to give the effect of a colored beam of light projected toward the'driver, and thus promptly warn him of the position of the signal. The

means by which the device may be focused insures a maximum of efficiency inthe performance of this reflecting function. By

.adding the heavy protective wire screen, the

reflector may not be readily damaged and is not readily open to injury by vandals or missiles. It will be. particularly noted that the signal is very simple in construction, can be manufactured at small cost, and is of a character which may be equally useful in congested areas as well as in the less settled districts.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described an operative manner ofv constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forthall of the forms in which it may be made, or all of the forms of its use, what is claimed is 1. A signal device of the character described comprising a supporting plate, a reflector member bearing against one face of said plate, a protector frame having a portion surrounding the periphery of said reflector member, clamping means located within said protector frame and cooperating with said supporting plate to retain said reflector memberin place, and means for securing said protector frame to said supporting plate. U ,V

2. A signal device of the character described compi'isinga' supporting plate, a metal reflector sheet, a transparent cover for said reflector sheet, means for binding the edges of said sheets together to produce a unitary reflector member, a protector frame having a portion surrounding the periphery of said reflector member, clamp means within said protector frame and cooperating with said supporting plate to retain the protector frame in place, and means for securing said protector frame to said supporting plate.

3. A signal device of the character described comprising a supporting plate, a reflector member bearing against one face of said plate, a protector frame having a portion surrounding the periphery of said reflector member, anchor members secured to the interior ofsaid protector frame and eooperating with the supporting, plate to clamp said reflector member in place, and means for securin said protector frame to said supporting p late.

comprising a supporting plate, a reflector member bearing against one face of said 4. A signal device-of the character described plate, a protector frame having a portion surrounding the periphery of said reflector member, anchor members secured to the interior of said protector frame and'cooperating with the supportingplate to'clamp said reflector member in .place, means for securing said protector frame to said supporting plate, and a protecting screen also retained in position'by said anchor members.

5. A signal device of the character described comprising a supporting plate, a reflector member resting thereon, a protector frame secured to said support and having a portion surrounding. the periphery of saidreflector member, said frame aving. a flange overhanging and spaced from said reflector memher, a protector screen extending over said reflector member and having 1ts edges projecting beneath said flange, and means cooperating with the flange to retain said protector screen in place.

6. A signal of the character described comprising a supporting plate, a reflector member resting thereon, a protector frame member carried by said frame and cooperating with said flange to engage the edges of said screen.

7. A signal of the character described comprising a supporting plate, a reflectormemreflector member, said frame having a flange,

ber resting thereon, a protector frame secured to said plate and having a portion,

surrounding the periphery of said reflector member, said frame having a flange overhanging and spaced from said'reflector member, a protector screen extending over said.

reflector member and having its edges projecting beneath said flange, and an anchor member carried bysaidframe and cooperating with said flange to engage the edges of said screen, said anchor member also cooperating with said supporting plate to retain said reflector member in place.

8. A- signal device of the character described comprising a supporting plate, a reflector member resting thereon, a protector frame secured to' said plate and having a portion surrounding the periphery of said overhanging and spaced from said reflector member, a protector screen extending over said reflector member and having its edges projecting beneath said flange, one or more anchor members carried. within said frame and each provided with inwardly-extended spaced apart flanges, one set of flanges co-' operating with said supporting plate to retain said reflector member inplace, and a protector screen clamped between the other set of anchor member flanges and the overhanging flange of the protector frame. I

9. A signal device of the character described comprising a supporting plate, a reflector member resting upon said plate, a protector frame having a portion surrounding the periphery of said reflector member, means for securing the protector frame to saidsuppOrting plate, meanscarried by said protector frame and cooperatin with the supporting plate to retain the refl ector member in place, and means for changing the varied.

angular disposition of the reflector member with respect to the surface of the support ing plate.

10. A signal device of the character described comprising a supporting plate, a reflector member resting against said supportmg plate, a protector frame engaging said supporting plate and having means for retaming said reflector member in place, and an ad usting member engaging said reflector member so as to move it toward and from said supporting plate.

11. A signal device of the character described comprising asupporting plate, a reflector member resting upon and covering the front face of said plate, a protector frame having a portion enclosing the periphery of said reflector member and having internal means cooperating with said plate to retain said reflector member in place, support lugs securedto the back face of said supporting plate, and post-engaging members adjustably connecting with said lugs.

12. A signal device of the character described comprising a supporting plate, a refl-ector member resting upon and covering the front face of said plate, a protector frame having a portion enclosing the periphery of said reflector member and having internal means cooperating with said plate to retain said reflector member in place, slotted supporting lugs secured to the back face of said plate, support devices provided with arms, and bolts extending through the slots of said lugs and engaging said arms.

13. A signal device of the character dc scribed comprising a supporting plate, areflector member resting upon and covering the'front face of said plate, a protector frame having a portion enclosing the periphery of said reflector member and having internal means c'ooperatingwith said plate to retain said reflector member in place, sup-I port lugs secured to the back face of said supporting plate, post-engaging members adjustably connected with said lugs, and means whereby the radial positions of said postengaging members may be varied/with respect to the post. a

14. A signal device ofthe character described comprising a supporting plate, a reflector member resting upon and covering the. front" face of said. plate, a protector frame having a portion enclosing the periphery of said reflector member and having internal means coopera'tin with said plate to retain said reflector mem er in place, slotted supporting lugs securedto the back face of said plate, support devicesv rovided with arms, bolts extending throu the slots of saidlu s and engaging said arms, said ost-engagin'g members having means wherey their rad1al-positions on a post may be 15. A signal device of the character dereflector surface of the said sheet metal mem- I scribed comprising a sheet metal reflector ber, and a protecting cover for said-reflector 10 member, having a polished reflector surface, member and said color screen, said cover a sheet-like color screenof transparent nonhaving openings" therein through which a vitreous material covering said reflector beam of light may be reflected. member, the back surface of said color In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto set screen being in contact throughout its area my hand. a I

th a corresponding area of the polished I WILLDE A. INGALLS. 

